City allows livestock in backyards but not chickens.

So I am trying to get my city to allow for backyard chickens. The way the ordinance is written i can have chickens if they are no closer than 500ft to a neighbors home. My property is only 275 in length. I am trying to get them to change the ordinance to allow them closer. When i went to the council meeting they table the issue an basically said that I am new to the community and i should worry more about establishing a good rapport with people in town than chickens. However, their ordinance read "no person shall own, possess, harbor, or maintain any fowl within 500ft of another persons dwelling".

They do not define fowl, so by default it would include all birds. As a result of their lack of definition of the word, no person should be allowed to have a bird feeder, birdbath or any "pet" type bird in their home or yard, as this could be construed to be maintaining the birds.

They do not, however, have any ordinances in regards to livestock. So essentially, I can go out and get some pigs, goats, a horse or a cow and put then in my backyard.

How should I approach them during my next meeting?Should I just go ahead and get some pigs just to teach them a lesson?

You probably could have gotten away with having a few females in a modest coop not having already brought attention to it. How many are you talkin here?.. i wouldnt want to live with 100 chickens outside my winow.

You probably could have gotten away with having a few females in a modest coop not having already brought attention to it. How many are you talkin here?.. i wouldnt want to live with 100 chickens outside my winow.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 32852353

Good point. I want about 4-8 hens. However, the way the law is written now, I could "technically" own 3000 chickens as long as they are 500ft away from any other persons home. Yes I could have just gotten them anyways, I however wanted to try and do it the right way first.

I don't think the pig is a good idea.Pig farms tend to be quite smelly but with proper care it would probably be OK.

All in all, I think goats may be a better option. True they can be quite smelly when they piss on themselves to impress a mate but with a regular bathing they could be kept quite clean and pleasant to be around.

The goats would trim the grass but beware they will eat almost everything else. You probably would need to move your clothesline to the front yard.

Goat milk and goat cheese is very good once you get used to the strong smell and taste and I think is very healthy.

Goat meat if properly cooked can be quite tasty. I went to a goat BBQ once and the whole community was there so it might be a good way to meet the neighbors.

(Of course eggs would be out of the question but you can't have everything.)

I don't think the pig is a good idea.Pig farms tend to be quite smelly but with proper care it would probably be OK.

All in all, I think goats may be a better option. True they can be quite smelly when they piss on themselves to impress a mate but with a regular bathing they could be kept quite clean and pleasant to be around.

The goats would trim the grass but beware they will eat almost everything else. You probably would need to move your clothesline to the front yard.

Goat milk and goat cheese is very good once you get used to the strong smell and taste and I think is very healthy.

Goat meat if properly cooked can be quite tasty. I went to a goat BBQ once and the whole community was there so it might be a good way to meet the neighbors.

(Of course eggs would be out of the question but you can't have everything.)

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 34426154

I would only get 1-2 pigs. I don't want a farm I just want to teach the council a lesson. Let me have chickens or I will put livestock in my backyard.

So I am trying to get my city to allow for backyard chickens. The way the ordinance is written i can have chickens if they are no closer than 500ft to a neighbors home. My property is only 275 in length. I am trying to get them to change the ordinance to allow them closer. When i went to the council meeting they table the issue an basically said that I am new to the community and i should worry more about establishing a good rapport with people in town than chickens. However, their ordinance read "no person shall own, possess, harbor, or maintain any fowl within 500ft of another persons dwelling".

They do not define fowl, so by default it would include all birds. As a result of their lack of definition of the word, no person should be allowed to have a bird feeder, birdbath or any "pet" type bird in their home or yard, as this could be construed to be maintaining the birds.

They do not, however, have any ordinances in regards to livestock. So essentially, I can go out and get some pigs, goats, a horse or a cow and put then in my backyard.

How should I approach them during my next meeting?Should I just go ahead and get some pigs just to teach them a lesson?

So I am trying to get my city to allow for backyard chickens. The way the ordinance is written i can have chickens if they are no closer than 500ft to a neighbors home. My property is only 275 in length. I am trying to get them to change the ordinance to allow them closer. When i went to the council meeting they table the issue an basically said that I am new to the community and i should worry more about establishing a good rapport with people in town than chickens. However, their ordinance read "no person shall own, possess, harbor, or maintain any fowl within 500ft of another persons dwelling".

They do not define fowl, so by default it would include all birds. As a result of their lack of definition of the word, no person should be allowed to have a bird feeder, birdbath or any "pet" type bird in their home or yard, as this could be construed to be maintaining the birds.

They do not, however, have any ordinances in regards to livestock. So essentially, I can go out and get some pigs, goats, a horse or a cow and put then in my backyard.

How should I approach them during my next meeting?Should I just go ahead and get some pigs just to teach them a lesson?

Get with some other folks and petition the city, you can probably find like-minded people in backyard chicken groups in your area.

I have read of several cities changing their laws on this because of the way the economy and food prices are headed - so people can have a means of providing for their families. The thing they need to understand is the more people can provide for themselves, the better it is for your area in general.

around her we have these buildings we call grocery stores and they always have loads of fresh eggs. that works for me. no hassle of maintaining a chicken coop anymore!

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 35076732

Yeah, sure, they'll have loads of fresh eggs for exactly one day in a SHTF scenario...besides, if you've ever really eaten "Fresh" eggs, that haven't had a formaldehyde bath, you'll never want to eat that shit they sell in the store again...

I don't think the pig is a good idea.Pig farms tend to be quite smelly but with proper care it would probably be OK.

All in all, I think goats may be a better option. True they can be quite smelly when they piss on themselves to impress a mate but with a regular bathing they could be kept quite clean and pleasant to be around.

The goats would trim the grass but beware they will eat almost everything else. You probably would need to move your clothesline to the front yard.

Goat milk and goat cheese is very good once you get used to the strong smell and taste and I think is very healthy.

Goat meat if properly cooked can be quite tasty. I went to a goat BBQ once and the whole community was there so it might be a good way to meet the neighbors.

(Of course eggs would be out of the question but you can't have everything.)

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 34426154

Oh ya get a goat in 275 feet. Shit everywhere and it will chew and kill every tree and the fence and the house siding. Ya. That will work.

Go to backyardchickens.com and find folks in your area that will fight the law with you.

I love my chickens they supply us with food and the eggs we sell pay for their feed. I hope you don't plan on keeping them in a small pen are chicken tractor I find that abusive. My hens would be so unhappy in one of those little containment coops. My hens forage from sun up to sun down I have the feed mill blend my chicken feed which is organic. Also remember when hens are laying they announce it to the world they can be as loud or louder then a rooster.

You also need a spot or way to compost their poo, I swear they poo more then the horses lol.